NETGEAR, Inc., the leading provider of networking products that power businesses both large and small, today launched the cloud-managed NETGEAR S3600 Series Smart Switches, joining the company's cutting-edge portfolio of switches designed to meet the growing demands for faster networking that today's businesses require. The S3600 Series includes the 8-Port 10G/Multi-Gigabit (XS508TM) and 16-Port 10G/Multi-Gigabit (XS516TM) that provide flexible and auto-adaptive wired connectivity of high-bandwidth devices.

The growing networking demands of high-bandwidth applications and devices in the workplace often result in connectivity drops, slow speeds, bottlenecks, lagging content streaming and slow downloads. The S3600 Series of Smart Switches addresses these issues head-on and enables business owners to simply connect devices and instantly give each device exactly the speed it needs - either 1G, 2.5G, 5G, or 10G.

TerraMaster, a professional brand that specializes in providing innovative storage products for home, businesses and enterprises, proudly announces the redesigned and improved F8-422 model 8-Bay business NAS with built-in 10 GbE LAN. The redesigned F8-422 has a sleeker aluminium chassis without the top-mounted handles for space-conscious users. The built-in high-speed 10GBASE-T RJ45 port offers improved network performance and efficiency over 1GbE networking, a cost-saving upgrade to 10 GbE networking which won't require a 10 GbE NIC card upgrade.

The improved TerraMaster F8-422 NAS now has sleek aluminium housing offers both superb protection and cooling for the drives installed inside. Furthermore, the F8-422 comes equipped with two smart cooling fans that deliver efficient airflow to keep the drives cool at all times during operation. The improved and redesigned F8-422 is ideal for growing small- to medium-sized businesses and enterprise users that require high-speed, high-capacity NAS devices particularly with demanding professionals such as video editors, photographers, 3D animators, and other content creators.

Linksys today announced at the Interop show in Las Vegas, the expansion of its business networking line-up with two new 802.11ac Access Points. These new access points allow network administrators, resellers and businesses to deploy a high-speed wireless network or upgrade their existing wireless infrastructure to the latest 802.11ac technology. The new access points deliver up to three time faster speeds* for connected devices and more Wi-Fi capability for the Small and Medium Business (SMB) environment.

"With the proliferation of mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets in business environments, the need for faster Wi-Fi and more capacity is evident. And with the Internet of Things moving into the office environment, everything will become connected going forward. It starts with notebooks and smartphones, but as we look forward, door locks, card scanners, cameras and security sensors can also be added to that list," said Steven Lin, director of Linksys business products. "The Linksys Wireless-AC Access Points help provide manageable dual-band high speed wireless access along with Power-over-Ethernet, bridge mode for range extension and other advanced features SMBs need today."

TP-LINK, a global provider of networking products, today announced the AC1750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router, Archer C7, the first in a family of next-generation routers that support the 802.11 ac standard, to deliver faster data transfer rates of up to 1.75 Gbps.

TP-LINK's Archer C7 operates over both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands to give users two dedicated networks to ensure lag-free throughput for work or entertainment. Devices processing simple tasks, such as sending e-mails or web browsing, can operate on the 2.4 GHz band while those that process bandwidth intensive tasks, such as online gaming or HD video streaming, can leverage the 5 GHz band - all at the same time.

Linksys today announced the availability of the latest additions to its Smart Wi-Fi portfolio. The Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router AC 1200 and AC 1750 are available immediately and the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router AC 1600, model EA6400, is planned for availability in late May. The new Smart Wi-Fi routers can be installed from virtually any device through browser-based set-up; and with Linksys SimpleTap, consumers can easily connect new devices to the home network through innovative ways, such as scanning a QR code or NFC tag. All new models feature industry-standard beamforming technology that significantly helps improve router speed, overall performance and wireless range in the home.

"The increase in smart devices has created a strong demand for smarter Wi-Fi solutions that can keep up with all of today's technology needs," said Mike Chen, senior director of product management, Linksys. "Our new, more powerful Smart Wi-Fi routers not only deliver unprecedented speed and range, but also game-changing Smart Wi-Fi tools and apps that allow users to do everything from manage kids' screen time to centrally store and stream music and video, all through their smartphone and tablet, from anywhere around the world."

IPv6 may no longer be a protocol without a product line thanks to a growing number of manufacturers designing and tweaking their products to support the next generation Internet standard. As one of the most competitive providers of networking solutions, TP-LINK is carrying through with its plan to improve its routers to ensure compliance with IPv6. TP-LINK is ready with a family of new and established networking products that comply with IPv6 by default or through firmware upgrades.

With the increasing number of new devices being connected to the Internet, the number of available IP addresses using the original IPv4 standard has been depleted. In fact, all IPv4 addresses have been assigned and there are no new addresses left. The exhaustion of IPv4 addresses makes support for IPv6 essential to satisfy the growth of IP address users and also important for the next generation of Internet.

IBM, STMicroelectronics and Shaspa today announced a collaboration to tap cloud and mobile computing for manufacturers and service providers to provide innovative ways for consumers to manage and interact with their homes' functions and entertainment systems using multiple user interfaces such as voice recognition and physical gestures for a smarter home.

A "smart home" brings networking functions together, creating a gateway that connects a television, computer or mobile device with smart meters, lights, appliances, plugs and sensors within the home as well as services from outside. Parks Associates forecasts that more than 8 billion devices will be connected on the home network by year-end 2015.

Delivering gigabit wireless speeds, higher capacity and broader coverage for home networks, D-Link today announced its first 802.11ac router - the Cloud Router 5700 (DIR-865L) - is now available. The Cloud Router 5700 offers superior dual-band wireless performance of up to 1750Mbps for today's high-bandwidth gaming and HD streaming applications, and features D-Link's industry-leading Cloud App, allowing consumers to monitor and control the home network remotely. The Cloud Router 5700 provides users with easy access to manage and stream local content from a connected USB drive to mobile devices via D-Link's SharePort mobile app.

Belkin, creator of people-inspired consumer technology products, today launched its new line of advanced wireless routers featuring 802.11ac technology for speeds up to three times faster than existing 802.11n technology. As one of the first to market with routers that support the new 802.11ac networking standard, Belkin's AC1000 DB and AC1200 DB Wi-Fi Dual-Band AC+ Gigabit Routers provide enhanced reliability, greater speeds, and enhanced streaming capabilities.

"With a majority of video content being consumed on devices such as smart TVs, smartphones, and tablets instead of a home computer, today's tech-savvy families have an increasing need for simultaneous connections to multiple devices throughout their homes," said Mike Chen, senior director of Belkin's networking business. "The enhanced speed and expanded coverage of Belkin's AC routers enable families to achieve the truly seamless online experiences they crave."

MediaTek Inc., a leading fabless semiconductor company for wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions, announced today the world's first 1T1R 802.11ac dual-band concurrent Wi-Fi router and dongle solutions. MT7620 + MT7610E and MT7610U provide the mass market with 1T1R 802.11ac router and dongle to enable high quality data transmission, voice and video applications in connected homes. MediaTek will demonstrate its latest wireless technologies, connectivity devices and applications to its customers during Computex Taipei 2012.

MT7620 family integrates a 2T2R 802.11n Wi-Fi radio, a 600 MHz MIPS 24KEc CPU, 5p FE switch, 2xrGMII, USB, PCIe, SD-HC. The PCI Express interface will connect to 2nd Wi-Fi chipset for 11n 2x2 DBC router or to an 11ac chipset for 1x1 DBC 11ac routers. The high performance USB 2.0 allows MT7620 to add 3G/LTE support on a router or can add a UVC cam to enable the best cost/performance IP-Cam. And to support the wireless storage application, MT7620 supports NAND flash interface, SD-HC, USB 2.0 and storage accelerator for NAS, Wi-Fi HDD and Wi-Fi card reader. Audio interface I2S and PCM will enable wireless speaker and VoIP applications. MT7620 also steps up to the leading Hardware Network Address Translation (HNAT) milestone by supporting 2Gbps wired speed with IPv6 forwarding. The cost effective rGMII iNIC interface (2.4G or dual-band concurrent) can be utilized for cable, PON, xDSL and broadband wireless router.

The ASUS RT-AC66U router integrates dual-band Gigabit wireless with fifth generation 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology, also known as 5G WiFi, which enables speeds up to three times faster than existing 802.11n. As one of the first routers to achieve this, it tops Gigabit wireless requirements with a combined 2.4 GHz/5 GHz bandwidth of 1.75 Gbps. This massive data rate makes it an excellent high speed router for demanding online applications, coupled with exclusive ASUS AiRadar signal amplification and shaping technology. Easy ASUSWRT setup, multiple SSIDs, and IPv6 support further enhance networking, while strong USB-based capabilities turn the RT-AC66U into a 3G, FTP, DLNA, and printer server for genuine multi-role functionality.

The annual event is approaching, computer gurus, enthusiasts and novices all alike prepare anxiously to cover the grounds of Computex 2012. Attendees seek for the most innovative technology available and exhibitors are kept on their toes to present eye-catching IT hardware and software. The time has come Computex 2012 is set for June 5th - 9th at Nangang Exhibition Hall, Taiwan. Visit Thecus at booth K0510 as new hardware and software will be presented to the public.

Thecus proudly exhibits:

• ThecusOS 5.0
• McAfee Antivirus
• TopTower Series
• Microsoft Windows Storage Servers: W Series
• V Series (Microsoft Windows 2008R2 Certified)
• Home & Small Office: Vision & EVO Series
• Thecus NVR, Visoguard

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM), a global innovation leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today announced the industry's first 100 Gbps full duplex network processor unit (NPU). Enabling the next wave of 100GbE optimized switches and routers for service provider networks, the fully programmable BCM88030 family features 64 custom processors running at 1GHz, delivering more than 2X the throughput of any NPU on the market. With the industry's highest level of integration, the BCM88030 solution eliminates costly external components, dramatically reducing system cost and power by up to 80 percent per 10 GbE port.

In 2012, the number of connected devices is set to exceed the world's population with an estimated 7 billion devices connected to the network(1). By 2015, 90 percent of content viewed on mobile devices will be streaming video and application downloads are expected to reach 47 billion per year(1). To satisfy this overwhelming appetite for bandwidth, service providers around the globe are racing to transform their networks by adopting higher bandwidth links. Analysts estimate a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 170 percent from 2011 to 2016 for 100G Ethernet ports as service providers rush to meet this demand(2).

Major Internet service providers (ISPs), home networking equipment manufacturers, and web companies around the world are coming together to permanently enable IPv6 for their products and services by 6 June 2012.

Organized by the Internet Society, and building on the successful one-day World IPv6 Day event held on 8 June 2011, World IPv6 Launch represents a major milestone in the global deployment of IPv6. As the successor to the current Internet Protocol, IPv4, IPv6 is critical to the Internet's continued growth as a platform for innovation and economic development.

IPv6 routers have existed for some time now, but there are currently very few models available. These are also very expensive at over £100 / $156 approx. However, the Technicolor TG582n router promises to be the first home router that's affordably priced and suitable for the home market. It's not quite on general sale yet, but is being provided as a "free with the service" router from business and techy-oriented Andrews & Arnold ISP - www.aaisp.net - preconfigured to work with their service straight out of the box. AAISP Director, Adrian Kennard had this to say about the new router:

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading manufacturer of world class NAS servers, NVR Video Surveillance Systems, and Network-based Video Players today announced the TS-859U-RP Business Series Turbo NAS server enclosure, the most affordable 2U rack-mounted unit with 8 hot-swappable 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch hard disk drives and a redundant power-supply for maximum up-time in corporate and entry-level enterprise datacenters where high performance, high data-availability, and maximum reliability are paramount. QNAP is the only network appliance company to currently offer 8-drive NAS enclosures, and does so in desktop and rack-mounted configurations.

The TS-859U-RP features a dual-core Intel Atom D510 1.66GHz CPU and 1GB DDRII RAM, delivering exceptionally fast performance coupled with ultra-low power consumption that translates into lower total cost of ownership without sacrificing performance. The TS-859U-RP contains two power units. Should one power supply fail, the other will continue to supply the power for the entire system and alert the administrator via email or SMS to the failure. The TS-859U-RP is chock full of advanced networking features including dual Gigabit LAN ports with 7 bonding modes, including failover (if one network port fails, the other LAN port is still active), load-balancing (aggregates the network load to boost transfer speed), multiple-IP settings. The fail-safe dual OS DOM architecture for positive system boot ups, and single, JBOD, RAID 0/1/5/6/5+ hot spare/6+ hot spare with online RAID capacity expansion and online RAID level migration, and RAID recovery. The TS-859U-RP also features iSCSI for business, which allows easy network storage capacity expansion by simply attaching other QNAP Turbo NAS units to the network and establishing virtual volumes, a feature not offered by other competitors currently in this product segment.

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading manufacturer of world class NAS servers, NVR Video Surveillance Systems, and Network-based Video Players today expanded their popular Business Series Turbo NAS lineup with the addition of a new 5-drive desktop model, the TS-559 Pro. The TS-559 Pro provides up to 10TB of storage (using 2TB hard drives and single disk volume/ JBOD configuration), has been certified as compatible with VMware's vSphere 4 (ESX 4.0) virtualization platform, ideal for departmental file sharing, storage, and advanced server applications in the office environment.

The TS-559 Pro incorporates the Intel Atom D-510 1.66Ghz dual-core processor and includes 1GB of DDRII RAM, delivering exceptional performance and high reliability for multiple concurrent tasks and intensive data transfer with lower power consumption. Businesses of all sizes are able to enjoy the interoperability between VMware virtual machines and QNAP high performance storage to take the advantages of VMware cloud computing environments.

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading manufacturer of world class NAS servers, NVR Video Surveillance Systems, and Network-based Video Players today expanded its Turbo NAS lineup with two new mid-range NAS servers targeted at SMB and corporate customers. The new TS-239 Pro II (2 drive model) and TS-439 Pro II (4 drive model) incorporate the new Intel Atom D410 single-core processor, which delivers up to 8TB of high performance, highly reliable networked storage coupled with the business-essential features of QNAP's ultra-high performance Business Series NAS servers.

The TS-239 Pro II and TS-439 Pro II NAS servers are compatible with VMware's vSphere4 (ESX 4.0) virtualization platform, ideal for departmental file sharing, storage, and advanced server applications in the office environment. VMware's vSphere is the industry's first cloud operating system that offers a way to reduce IT costs and increase responsiveness. Shared networked storage is an essential component of a Cloud Computing infrastructure. SMB and corporate users are able to enjoy the interoperability between VMware virtual machines and QNAP high performance, low power consumption certified storage.

QNAP has made a name for themselves with their previous NAS devices, which made use of the Intel Atom processor, but the newest revision of their units with 2, 4, 6 or 8 storage bays now runs on the Pinetrail Atom D510 and also features VMware and iSCSI support. All of them are able to run in IPv6 based networks as well. On top of that, we got to take a quick look at their consumer products - the TS-111 (one bay) and TS-210 (two bay). Both feature a 1000 Mb/s network port, along with an 800 MHz Marvell processor and 256 MB memory.

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading manufacturer of world class NAS servers, NVR Video Surveillance Systems, and Network-based Video Players today unveiled its new series of ultra-high performance Turbo NAS servers TS-259 Pro, TS-459 Pro, TS-659 Pro and TS-859 Pro (a QNAP exclusive) that have been certified as compatible with VMware's vSphere4 (ESX 4.0) virtualization platform, ideal for departmental file sharing, storage, and advanced server applications in the office environment.

VMware's vSphere is the industry's first cloud operating system that offers a way to reduce IT costs and increase responsiveness. Shared networked storage is an essential component of a Cloud Computing infrastructure. The new Turbo NAS series incorporates the Intel Atom D-510 dual-core processor, which delivers exceptional performance and maintains high reliability for multiple concurrent tasks and intensive data transfer with very low power consumption. Businesses of all sizes are able to enjoy the interoperability between VMware virtual machines and QNAP high performance, low power consumption certified storage, take the advantages of VMware Cloud Computing environments.

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading manufacturer of world class NAS servers today announced an impressive update to the NAS management software that powers its business-class Intel-based Turbo NAS servers. The NAS management software version 3.2, embedded as firmware, provides a segment-leading iSCSI target solution supporting SPC-3 persistent reservation, MPIO and MC/S allowing forward-thinking SMB and corporate customers the ability to deploy the NAS as a storage server in the virtualized and clustered infrastructure. Additionally, the newly updated management software also steps up its backup capabilities by adding Apple Time Machine support and even redundant backups to Amazon's S3 cloud storage platform.

In addition, for ease of management, IT administrators can also benefit from the DFS support (Share Folder Aggregation), import of user-list, and customizable Daylight Saving Time. Further, the next-generation Internet Protocol, IPv6, has also been incorporated for future networking evolution. QNAP's Web File Manager 2 features an entirely redesigned user interface and functionality for improved file sharing and management. WebDAV is also available for users to collaboratively share, access, and edit files over HTTP and HTTPs.

Rudimentary software-level protection for IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6), a network protocol which comes pre-installed with several operating systems (OS) but poorly implemented in the real-world makes it a protocol ignored by security providers, and effectively a soft-target for hackers to compromise a system.

Several OSes including Linux 2.6 upwards, Windows Vista, Solaris, Mac OS X and mobile OSes such as Windows Mobile 5 and 6 come with IPv6 enabled by default, though the user would probably not use the protocol in a year 2008 setting where the networks haven't embraced the protocol to level that makes it an explicit requirement for all internet-enabled computers the way IPv4 is. Keeping this in mind, software level protection for IPv6 is close to non-existent, having strong intrusion detection-enabled protection might keep you safe at an IPv4 level that's still standard, but with IPv6 enabled and with protection that doesn't cover IPv6, the PC is as vulnerable as one without any firewall at all. With IPv6 'listeners' (programs that open ports and allow incoming connections) in place the PC becomes vulnerable to intrusions. All it takes is for a hacker to create an IPv6 listener program (malware) and plant it on a PC.